While the CE Europa men's first team currently enjoys professional football, playing in large stadiums like Rico Pérez or Enrique Roca, the visit to Alt Empordà recalled the years the club spent in the Tercera División (Third Division). This experience highlights the difference between high categories and the more authentic, local atmosphere of village pitches.
The Peralada stadium is characterized as a small and welcoming ground, featuring natural grass and minimal infrastructure, allowing spectators to follow the game standing up and moving freely. This setting contrasts with the restrictions and formality of higher-level competitions.
I also miss the real bars, without the restrictions of the higher categories.
One of the most celebrated aspects by attendees was the absence of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) in the Copa Catalunya, an element that often prolongs matches at the Sardenya stadium. Furthermore, the tradition of village pitch bars was highlighted, where ordering a glass of cava is customary.
As is common in modest football grounds, advertising from local and regional businesses helps finance the clubs. At the green-and-white pitch in Peralada, billboards for companies like Semen Cardona and Ramaderia Payetas, linked to the pork and meat sectors respectively, stand out.
